Print control system, method of controlling printing, and recording medium

ABSTRACT

The print control system includes a data conversion apparatus including a data conversion unit that converts application data to print data; an image processing apparatus including a print control unit that prints print data; and a data processing apparatus including a data conversion request unit that sends conversion request data including application data to be processed to the data conversion apparatus for requesting the converting of the application data to print data, and a print request unit that sends print request data including converting apparatus data indicating a data conversion apparatus from which print data to print is to be obtained to the image processing apparatus for requesting the obtaining of the converted print data from the indicated data conversion apparatus and printing the obtained print data.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a technique of controlling printing.

2. Description of the Related Art

In Patent Document 1, for example, a technique in which a serverreceives application data from a portable terminal, converts theapplication data to print data capable of being printed by rendering,and sends the converted print data to a printer is disclosed. Asdescribed above, a print control system of a push type printing isknown.

In the above print control system, the server is connected to aninternal network such as an internal Local Area Network (LAN) or thelike. In other words, in the above print control system, the portableterminal, the server, and the printer are connected with each other in aprivate environment. However, recently, a wide area print service hasbeen developed in which a server is connected to an external networksuch as the INTERNET or the like so that application data to beconverted by the server is accepted via the external network andconverted print data is also sent to a printer via the external network.

When a server connected to the external network is used to convert theapplication data, according to the conventional method as describedabove, there may be a problem as follows. Generally, there is provided afirewall between an internal network and an external network in a viewof security. In such a case, the server connected to the externalnetwork cannot send the converted print data to a printer connected toan internal network. It means that according to the conventional method,a push type printing cannot be performed using a server provided in apublic environment.

PATENT DOCUMENT

-   [Patent Document 1] Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No.    2001-290742

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is made in light of the above problems, andprovides a technique of controlling printing by which a push typeprinting can be performed using a data conversion apparatus connected toan external network.

According to an embodiment, there is provided a print control systemincluding a data conversion apparatus including a data conversion unitthat converts application data to print data; an image processingapparatus including a print control unit that prints print data; and adata processing apparatus including a data conversion request unit thatsends conversion request data including application data to be processedto the data conversion apparatus for requesting the converting of theapplication data to print data, and a print request unit that sendsprint request data including converting apparatus data indicating a dataconversion apparatus from which print data to print is to be obtained tothe image processing apparatus for requesting the obtaining of theconverted print data from the indicated data conversion apparatus andprinting the obtained print data.

According to another embodiment, there is provided a method ofcontrolling printing used in a print control system including a dataconversion apparatus that converts application data to print data, animage processing apparatus that prints print data, and a data processingapparatus including a data conversion requesting step, performed by thedata processing apparatus, of sending conversion request data includingapplication data to be processed to the data conversion apparatus forrequesting the converting of the application data to print data, and aprint requesting step, performed by the data processing apparatus, ofsending print request data including converting apparatus dataindicating a data conversion apparatus from which print data to print isto be obtained to the image processing apparatus for requesting theobtaining of the print data converted by the indicated data conversionapparatus and printing the obtained print data.

According to another embodiment, there is provided a non-transitorycomputer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a programthat causes a computer connected to a data conversion apparatus thatconverts application data to print data and an image processingapparatus that prints print data to execute a method of controllingprinting, including a data conversion requesting step, performed by thedata processing apparatus, of sending conversion request data includingapplication data to be processed to the data conversion apparatus forrequesting the converting of the application data to print data, and aprint requesting step, performed by the data processing apparatus, ofsending print request data including converting apparatus dataindicating a data conversion apparatus from which print data to print isto be obtained to the image processing apparatus for requesting theobtaining of the print data converted by the indicated data conversionapparatus and printing the obtained print data.

Note that also arbitrary combinations of the above-describedconstituents, and any exchanges of expressions in the present invention,made among method, device, system, recording medium, computer programand so forth, are valid as embodiments of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbecome more apparent from the following detailed description when readin conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a view showing an example of a structure of a print controlsystem of an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a view showing an example of an operation of a print serviceprovided by the print control system;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardware structure ofa data processing apparatus of the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the print controlfunction of the embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a view showing an example of conversion request data of theembodiment;

FIG. 6 is a view showing an example of print request data of theembodiment;

FIG. 7 is a view showing an example of management information of theembodiment;

FIG. 8 is a view showing an example of control information of theembodiment;

FIG. 9 is a sequence diagram showing an example of an operation of printcontrol of the embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a view showing another example of the conversion requestdata;

FIG. 11 is a view showing an example of a spooling operation of theexample;

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing an example of the print controlfunction of the embodiment;

FIG. 13A is a view showing an example of conversion request data TRD ofthe embodiment

FIG. 13B is a view showing an example of job ID notification data of theembodiment;

FIG. 14 is a sequence diagram showing an example of an operation ofprint control of the embodiment;

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing an example of the print controlfunction of the embodiment;

FIG. 16A is a view showing an example of conversion request data of theembodiment;

FIG. 16B is a view showing an example of job ID-predicted timenotification data of the embodiment;

FIG. 17 is a view showing an example of calculation data for calculatinga predicted time;

FIG. 18 is a view showing an example of print request data of theembodiment;

FIG. 19 is a sequence diagram showing an example of an operation ofprint control of the embodiment;

FIG. 20 is a block diagram showing an example of the print controlfunction of the embodiment; and

FIG. 21 is a sequence diagram showing an example of an operation ofprint control of the embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The invention will be described herein with reference to illustrativeembodiments. Those skilled in the art will recognize that manyalternative embodiments can be accomplished using the teachings of thepresent invention and that the invention is not limited to theembodiments illustrated for explanatory purposes.

It is to be noted that, in the explanation of the drawings, the samecomponents are given the same reference numerals, and explanations arenot repeated.

First Embodiment System Structure

FIG. 1 is a view showing an example of a structure of a print controlsystem 1 of the embodiment.

The print control system 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes one or more dataprocessing apparatuses 100 ₁ to 100 _(n) (each of which is simplyreferred to as a “data processing apparatus 100” as well), one or moreimage processing apparatuses 300 ₁ to 300 _(n) (each of which is simplyreferred to as an “image processing apparatus 300” as well), and one ormore data conversion apparatuses 200. The data processing apparatuses100 ₁ to 100 _(n) and the image processing apparatuses 300 ₁ to 300 _(n)are respectively connected to an internal network N. The data conversionapparatuses 200 are connected to an external network I which isconnected to the internal networks N via the firewalls FW, respectively.It means that the data processing apparatuses and the image processingapparatuses 300 are secured by the firewalls FW, with respect to thedata conversion apparatuses 200.

The data processing apparatus 100 has a data processing function and isa user terminal such as a Personal Computer (PC) or the like. The imageprocessing apparatus 300 has an image processing function including aprinting function. The image processing apparatus 300 may be a printer,a Multifunction Peripheral (MFP) or the like.

The data conversion apparatus 200 has a data conversion function ofconverting data received from the data processing apparatus 100 to printdata capable of being printed by the image processing apparatus 300. Thedata conversion apparatus 200 is a rendering server or the like.

The print control system 1 of the embodiment provides the print serviceas shown in FIG. 2, for example. FIG. 2 is a view showing an example ofan operation of a print service provided by the print control system 1.

The data processing apparatus 100 accepts selections of application datato be processed and a data conversion apparatus 200 by a user via anoperation panel or the like and sends a request of convertingapplication data to print data with the application data to the selectedone of the data conversion apparatuses 200. Then, the data conversionapparatus 200 converts the received application data to print data.Further, upon accepting the selection of the application data to beprocessed, the data processing apparatus 100 sends a request of printingthe print data converted by the selected data conversion apparatus 200data with data indicating the selected data conversion apparatus 200, toa selected one of the image processing apparatuses 300. Then, uponreceiving the request of printing, the selected image processingapparatus 300 sends a request of sending the converted print data, tothe data conversion apparatus 200 specified by the data indicating theselected data conversion apparatus 200. Subsequently, when the printdata is obtained from the selected data conversion apparatus 200, theimage processing apparatus 300 prints the print data sent from theselected data conversion apparatus 200.

At this time, the data conversion apparatus 200 to convert and the imageprocessing apparatus 300 to print may be automatically selected by thedata processing apparatus 100, a functional component of the printcontrol system 1 or the like.

As described above, according to the print control system 1 of theembodiment, a print service capable of performing a push type printingusing the data conversion apparatus 200 connected to the externalnetwork I is provided.

Further, in this embodiment, as described above, the data processingapparatus 100 can use the print service by just sending the applicationdata, not the print data. Thus, it is not necessary for the dataprocessing apparatus 100 to have a function of converting applicationdata to print data, such as is performed by a printer driver.Specifically, the data processing apparatus 100 may be a Smartphone, atablet PC, a projector, a media board or the like.

(Hardware Structure)

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardware structure ofthe data processing apparatus 100 of the embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 3, the data processing apparatus 100 includes an inputdevice 101, a display device 102, an external interface (I/F) 103, aRandom Access Memory (RAM) 104, a Read-Only Memory (ROM) 105, a CentralProcessing Unit (CPU) 106, a communication interface (I/F) 107, a HardDisk Drive (HDD) 108 and the like, which are connected with each othervia a BUS B.

The input device 101 includes a keyboard, a mouse or the like and isused for inputting various operational signals into the data processingapparatus 100. The display device 102 includes a display or the like anddisplays a result processed by the data processing apparatus 100.

The communication I/F 107 connects the data processing apparatus 100 toa network such as the internal networks N shown in FIG. 1. With thefunction of the communication I/F 107, the data processing apparatus 100is capable of communicating with other apparatuses such as the dataconversion apparatus 200, the image processing apparatus 300 or the likevia the communication I/F 107.

The HDD 108 is a nonvolatile storage device storing programs or data.The programs or data stored in the HDD 108 may be an Operating System(OS) which is basic software controlling the entirety of the apparatus,application software providing various functions on the OS, or the like.The HDD 108 manages the programs or data stored therein by apredetermined file system and/or a Database (DB).

The external I/F 103 is an interface for an external device such as arecording medium 103 a or the like. With the function of the externalI/F 103, the data processing apparatus 100 is capable of reading and/orwriting data in the recording medium 103 a via the external I/F 103. Therecording medium 103 a may be a floppy (registered trademark) disk, aCompact Disk (CD), a Digital Versatile Disk (DVD), an SD memory card, aUniversal Serial Bus memory (USB memory) or the like.

The ROM 105 is a nonvolatile semiconductor memory (storage device)capable of storing data even when power is switched off. The ROM 105stores Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) which is executed wheninitiating the data processing apparatus 100, program or data forsetting the OS or network, or the like. The RAM 104 is a volatilesemiconductor memory (storage device) temporarily storing programs ordata. The CPU 106 is an arithmetic unit which reads out the programs ordata from the storage devices such as the HDD 108, the ROM 105 or thelike on the RAM 104 and actualizes controlling of the entirety of theapparatus and functions on the apparatus.

As described above, according to the data processing apparatus 100 ofthe embodiment, various processing services including controllingprinting, with the above hardware structure.

Although not shown in the drawings, each of the data conversionapparatuses 200 and each of the image processing apparatuses 300 havethe same hardware structures as explained above with reference to FIG.3.

(Print Control Function)

The print control function of the embodiment is explained.

In the print control system 1 of the embodiment, the data processingapparatus 100 connected to the internal network N sends conversionrequest data including application data to be processed, to the dataconversion apparatus 200 connected to the external network I forrequesting a conversion of the application data to print data. Uponreceiving the conversion request data, the data conversion apparatus 200converts the received application data to print data.

Further, the data processing apparatus 100 sends print request dataincluding an indication of one of the data conversion apparatuses 200selected to convert the application data and from which the imageprocessing apparatus 300 is to obtain the converted print data, to oneof the image processing apparatuses 300 connected to the internalnetwork N and selected to print for requesting the printing. Uponreceiving the print request data, the image processing apparatus 300requests sending the print data to the data conversion apparatus 200selected to convert the application data. Then, upon receiving the printdata, the image processing apparatus 300 prints the print data. Theprint control system 1 of the embodiment has such a print controlfunction.

According to the conventional system, a following problem may occur. Inthe internal network N, internal addresses of apparatuses may be maskedby a router so that it may be difficult to determine the addresseswithin the firewall FW (see FIG. 1) from the external network I.Further, even when an apparatus can be specified by a public address,the external access may be blocked by the firewall FW. Thus, in theconventional system, a push type printing cannot be performed as it isdifficult to send converted print data from a data conversion apparatusconnected to the external network I to an image processing apparatusconnected to the internal network N because of the firewall FW.

Thus, in the print control system 1 of the embodiment, the dataprocessing apparatus 100 is configured to send a request of obtainingprint data from the selected data conversion apparatus 200 and printingthe obtained print data to the image processing apparatus 300 selectedto print, in addition to sending a request of converting applicationdata to print data to the selected data conversion apparatus 200.

With this, the print control system 1 of the embodiment provides anenvironment in which the image processing apparatus 300 selected toprint is capable of dynamically obtaining the print data from the dataconversion apparatus 200 and printing the obtained print data. Thus,according to the print control system 1 of the embodiment, it is notnecessary for a user to perform a pull type printing as follows.

In the pull type printing, for example, it is necessary for a user tofirst send a request of converting application data to print data, tothe selected data conversion apparatus 200. Then, it is necessary forthe user to move to the image processing apparatus 300, select the printdata converted by the data conversion apparatus 200 to be obtained fromthe data conversion apparatus 200 and instruct to print the obtainedprint data at the image processing apparatus 300.

According to the print control system 1 of the embodiment, a pseudo-pushtype printing can be performed using the data conversion apparatus 200connected to the external network I.

The print control function of the embodiment is explained.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the print controlfunction of the embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 4, the data processing apparatus 100 of the embodimentincludes a data conversion request unit 11, a printer informationobtaining unit 12, a print request unit 13 and the like as the printcontrol function.

The data conversion apparatus 200 includes a data conversion requestreceiving unit 21, a data conversion unit 22, a print data sending unit23 and the like as the print control function. The data conversionapparatus 200 further includes a management information storing unit 90.

The image processing apparatus 300 includes a print request receivingunit 31, a print data obtaining unit 32, a print control unit 33 and thelike as the print control function. The image processing apparatus 300further includes a control information storing unit 80.

As described above, the print control function of the embodiment isactualized by a combination of the components.

(Data Processing Apparatus 100)

The data conversion request unit 11 requests a data conversion to thedata conversion apparatus 200. The data conversion request unit 11 sendsconversion request data including application data to be processed forrequesting a conversion of the application data to print data, to thedata conversion apparatus 200.

The conversion request data sent by the data conversion request unit 11is explained.

FIG. 5 is a view showing an example of conversion request data TRD ofthe embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5, the conversion request data TRDincludes data corresponding to items such as “conversion format”, “jobID”, “printer ID” or the like, in addition to the application data,although the application data is not shown in FIG. 5.

Data corresponding to the item “conversion format” (hereinafter simplyreferred to as “conversion format data”) indicates a conversion format(a data format) of print data to be generated. The conversion formatdata may be an identifier of Page Description language (PDL) (PDL name,for example, hereinafter simply referred to as a “PDL identifier”) orthe like.

Data corresponding to the item “job ID” (hereinafter simply referred toas “job ID data”) is a value for identifying the application data (ajob) to be processed. The job ID data may be an identifier uniquelyallocated to the application data.

Data corresponding to the item “printer ID” (hereinafter simply referredto as “printer ID data”) is a value for identifying the image processingapparatus 300 selected to print. The printer ID data may be anidentifier uniquely allocated to the image processing apparatus 300 suchas printer ID, Internet Protocol Address (IP address) or the like, forexample.

Referring back to FIG. 4, the data conversion request unit 11 displaysan operation panel for accepting a selection of application data to beprocessed and a selection of one of the image processing apparatuses 300to print. When a user selects application data (job) to be processed andthe image processing apparatus 300 to print via the operation panel, thedata conversion request unit 11 accepts the selections. Then, the dataconversion request unit 11 generates the conversion request data TRD. Atthis time, the data conversion request unit 11 issues unique job ID datafor the selected application data. Further, the data conversion requestunit 11 obtains printer information including printer ID data of theselected image processing apparatus 300 to print and conversion formatdata from the printer information obtaining unit 12, as will beexplained later.

With this, the data conversion request unit 11 generates the conversionrequest data TRD including the application data, the job ID data, theprinter ID data, and the conversion format data. Then, the dataconversion request unit 11 sends the generated conversion request dataTRD to the data conversion apparatus 200.

Here, before sending the conversion request data TRD, the dataconversion request unit 11 may determine whether the data conversionapparatus 200 is capable of converting the application data to beprocessed to the print data. Then, the data conversion request unit 11may send the conversion request data TRD to the data conversionapparatus 200 when it is determined that the data conversion apparatus200 is capable of converting the application data to the print data. Atthis time, the data conversion request unit 11 may determine whether thedata conversion apparatus 200 is capable of converting the applicationdata to the print data based on an extension of the application datasuch that whether the extension of the application data matches theextensions of data capable of being converted by the data conversionapparatus 200.

Further, when there are plural data conversion apparatuses 200 existing,the data conversion request unit 11 may automatically select one of thedata conversion apparatuses 200 to send the conversion request data TRD.

The printer information obtaining unit 12 obtains printer information.The printer information may be obtained by a two-way communication of aprinter driver, or may be obtained from a registry of the OS, forexample. The printer information includes the printer ID data, theconversion format data such as the PDL identifier which is adaptable forthe corresponding image processing apparatus, or the like. The printerinformation obtaining unit 12 obtains printer information of the imageprocessing apparatus 300 selected to print via the operation panel, andstores the obtained printer information in the predetermined storagearea.

Here, when the data conversion request unit 11 cannot obtain sufficientdata such as the printer ID data, the conversion format data or the likefrom the printer information, the data conversion request unit 11 maydisplay an operation panel capable of inputting or selecting theinsufficient data, and may accept input or selection by the user. Atthis time, the operation panel may include information formed based on aconfiguration file in which default values for the corresponding itemsare set, for example. Then, the accepted values may be stored in theconfiguration file. The default values of the conversion format data inthe configuration file may include a value indicating the conversionformat capable of being converted by the data conversion apparatus 200,conversion format adaptable for an environment in which the imageprocessing apparatus 300 is placed, or the like.

The print request unit 13 requests printing to the image processingapparatus 300. The print request unit 13 sends print request dataincluding information indicating the data conversion apparatuses 200selected to convert the application data and from which the imageprocessing apparatus 300 is to obtain the converted print data, to theimage processing apparatus 300 selected to print among the imageprocessing apparatuses 300 connected to the internal network N.

The print request data is explained.

FIG. 6 is a view showing an example of print request data PRD of theembodiment. As shown in FIG. 6, the print request data PRD includes datacorresponding to items such as the “job ID”, “converting apparatus” orthe like.

Data corresponding to the item “job ID” (job ID data) is the value foridentifying the application data (a job) to be processed for which thedata conversion request unit 11 requests converting to print data theconversion to the print data. It means that the job ID data in the printrequest data PRD is identification of print data to obtain for the imageprocessing apparatus 300.

Data corresponding to the item “converting apparatus” (hereinaftersimply referred to as “converting apparatus data”) is a value indicatingthe data conversion apparatus 200 selected to convert to which the dataconversion request unit 11 requests converting to print data. Theconverting apparatus data may be an access path to the data conversionapparatus 200 (“Uniform Resource Identifier (URI), for example). Itmeans that the converting apparatus data in the print request data PRDis information about the data conversion apparatus 200 to obtain theprint data for the image processing apparatus 300.

Referring back to FIG. 4, the print request unit 13 receives the datacorresponding to the items from the data conversion request unit 11,generates the print request data PRD including the converting apparatusdata based on the received data, and sends the print request data PRD tothe image processing apparatus 300 selected to print.

As described above, the data processing apparatus 100 requests obtainingthe print data and printing the obtained print data to the imageprocessing apparatus 300 selected to print as well as requestingconverting to the print data to the data conversion apparatus 200.

(Data Conversion Apparatus 200)

The data conversion request receiving unit 21 receives the request ofconverting application data to print data from the data processingapparatus 100. Specifically, the data conversion request receiving unit21 receives the conversion request data TRD including the applicationdata sent from the data conversion request unit 11 of the dataprocessing apparatus 100.

The data conversion unit 22 converts the received application data toprint data. The data conversion unit 22 specifies a conversion format (adata format) for the print data based on the conversion format dataincluded in the conversion request data TRD, and converts theapplication data to the print data (PDL data, for example) of thespecified conversion format. The data conversion unit 22 stores theconverted print data in a predetermined storage area in a storing deviceof the data conversion apparatus 200.

The conversion request data TRD received by the data conversion requestreceiving unit 21 and the print data converted by the data conversionunit 22 are managed in the data conversion apparatus 200 based onmanagement information as shown in FIG. 7, for example.

The management information is explained. FIG. 7 is a view showing anexample of management information 90D of the embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 7, the management information 90D includes one or moredata sets in each of which the job ID, the printer ID, an access path, astatus and the like are corresponded with each other. The data set isprepared for each of the received request of converting application datato print data.

The job ID data in the conversion request data TRD is stored in the item“job ID”. The printer ID data in the conversion request data TRD isstored in the item “printer ID”.

The item “access path” stores information indicating an access path tothe print data (storage area at which the print data is stored,hereinafter referred to as “access path data”).

The item “status” stores a status of a data conversion (hereinafterreferred to as “status information”). The status may be “startconversion”, “converting”, “converted (completed)” or the like.

These data corresponding to the items are stored in the managementinformation storing unit 90.

These data corresponding to the items are stored and updated by the dataconversion request receiving unit 21 and the data conversion unit 22.

The data conversion request receiving unit 21 accesses the managementinformation storing unit 90, and generates the data set for the receivedconversion request data TRD by registering the job ID data and theprinter ID data included in the received conversion request data TRD forthe item “job ID” and the item “printer ID”, respectively.

The data conversion unit 22 records the status of the data conversionfor the item “status” of the corresponding data set generated by thedata conversion request receiving unit 21, and further updates thestatus in accordance with the progress of the data conversion. When thedata conversion is completed and the converted print data is stored inthe predetermined storage area in the storing device of the dataconversion apparatus 200, the data conversion unit 22 records an accesspath for the item “access path” of the corresponding data set generated.

The print data sending unit 23 responds to a request of sending printdata sent from the image processing apparatus 300. Specifically, theprint data sending unit 23 receives the request of sending print data ofthe application data to be processed identified by the job ID datareceived from the image processing apparatus 300, and sends the statusinformation or the print data. At this time, when the print data sendingunit 23 receives the request from the image processing apparatus 300,the print data sending unit 23 accesses the management informationstoring unit 90, specifies the data set in the management information90D based on the received job ID data, and refers to the statusinformation (or the access path data) of the specified data set. Whenthe status information is “start conversion” or “converting”, the printdata sending unit 23 sends a notice that the application data to beprocessed in the request of sending print data is now being converted tothe image processing apparatus 300 in response. On the other hand, whenthe status information is “converted (completed)”, the print datasending unit 23 obtains the print data based on the access path data,and sends the obtained print data to the image processing apparatus 300in response.

As described above, the data conversion apparatus 200 converts theapplication data to be processed to the print data in accordance withthe request of converting application data to print data from the dataprocessing apparatus 100, and sends the converted print data to theimage processing apparatus 300 in accordance with the request of sendingprint data.

(Image Processing Apparatus 300)

The print request receiving unit 31 receives a request of printing fromthe data processing apparatus 100. The print request receiving unit 31receives the print request data PRD including the converting apparatusdata sent from the print request unit 13 of the data processingapparatus 100.

The print data obtaining unit 32 sends a request of sending print datato the data conversion apparatus 200. Specifically, the print dataobtaining unit 32 accesses the data conversion apparatus 200 based onthe converting apparatus data included in the print request data PRDreceived by the print request receiving unit 31, and sends a requestcommand of sending print data including the job ID data of theapplication data to be processed included in the print request data PRDfor requesting the sending of the print data.

Then, in response to the request, the print data sending unit 23 of thedata conversion apparatus 200 sends the status information or the printdata to the print data obtaining unit 32. When the status information issent from the data conversion apparatus 200, the print data obtainingunit 32 re-sends the request of sending print data after a predeterminedperiod has passed and repeats this operation until the print data issent from the data conversion apparatus 200. This operation iscontrolled by control information as shown in FIG. 8, for example.

FIG. 8 is a view showing an example of control information 80D of theembodiment. As shown in FIG. 8, the control information 80D includescontrol parameter values such as “inquiring time interval” indicatingtime interval for sending the request, “response time limit” indicatingresponse time limit (time out) in response to the request or the like.The control information 80D is stored in the control information storingunit 80.

The control information 80D may be previously set in accordance with anoperating policy of the provided print service by an administrator, forexample.

Referring back to FIG. 4, when sending the request, the print dataobtaining unit 32 accesses the control information storing unit 80, andcontrols communication with the data conversion apparatus 200 based onthe response time limit set in the control information 80D.Specifically, the print data obtaining unit 32 counts response time fromthe data conversion apparatus 200 by a timing circuit (not shown in thedrawings) of the image processing apparatus 300, performs apredetermined error operation when the counted value exceeds the setresponse time limit and then completes sending the request. When thestatus information is sent from the data conversion apparatus 200, theprint data obtaining unit 32 controls inquiring to the data conversionapparatus 200 based on the inquiring time interval set in the controlinformation 80D. Specifically, the print data obtaining unit 32 repeatsinquiring to the data conversion apparatus 200 with the set inquiringtime interval.

The print control unit 33 controls printing. The print control unit 33prints the print data obtained by the print data obtaining unit 32.Specifically, the print control unit 33 sends the print data to aplotter (not shown in the drawings) included in the image processingapparatus 300, and controls printing by the plotter in accordance with apredetermined printing condition.

As described above, the image processing apparatus 300 requests sendingthe print data which is converted from the application data to beprocessed, to the data conversion apparatus 200 in response to a requestof printing from the data processing apparatus 100, and prints theobtained print data.

As described above, the print control function of the embodiment isactualized by a combination of the components. Further, the abovefunctional components are actualized when arithmetic units (CPUs) readprograms installed in the apparatuses or devices composing the printcontrol system 1 from the storage devices (HDDs or ROMs) on the memories(RAMs), respectively.

The operation of the print control function of the embodiment isexplained in detail with respect to a sequence diagram.

FIG. 9 is a sequence diagram showing an example of an operation of printcontrol of the embodiment.

(Operation by Data Processing Apparatus 100)

Upon an instruction from the user, the data conversion request unit 11displays an operation panel and accepts selections of application datato be processed and the image processing apparatus 300 to print theselected application data. At this time, the data conversion requestunit 11 issues job ID data for the application data to be processed.

Then, the data conversion request unit 11 indicates the printerinformation obtaining unit 12 to obtain the printer information of theselected image processing apparatus 300 (step S101).

When the printer information obtaining unit 12 obtains the printerinformation, the data conversion request unit 11 refers to the printerinformation obtained by the printer information obtaining unit 12 (stepS102). Then, the data conversion request unit 11 generates theconversion request data TRD including the selected application data, thejob ID data, and the conversion format data and the printer ID dataobtained from the printer information of the selected image processingapparatus 300 (step S103). The data conversion request unit 11 sends theconversion request data TRD for requesting a conversion of theapplication data to print data, to the data conversion apparatus 200(step S104).

Further, the data conversion request unit 11 indicates the print requestunit 13 to send a request of printing (step S107). At this time, thedata conversion request unit 11 outputs the job ID data and theconverting apparatus data to the print request unit 13. Then, the printrequest unit 13 generates the print request data PRD including the jobID data and the converting apparatus data (step S108). The print requestunit 13 sends the print request data PRD for requesting the obtaining ofthe print data and printing the obtained print data, to the imageprocessing apparatus 300 (step S109).

(Operation by Data Conversion Apparatus 200)

When the data conversion apparatus 200 receives the conversion requestdata TRD from the data processing apparatus 100, the data conversionrequest receiving unit 21 indicates the data conversion unit 22 toconvert the received application data to print data (step S201). At thistime, the data conversion request receiving unit 21 outputs theapplication data, the conversion format data, the job ID data, and theprinter ID data included in the conversion request data TRD to the dataconversion unit 22.

Further, at this time, the data conversion request receiving unit 21accesses the management information storing unit 90, records the job IDdata and the printer ID data included in the received conversion requestdata TRD as values for the items “job ID” and “printer ID” respectively,and generates a data set of the management information 90D for thereceived conversion request data TRD.

Then, the data conversion unit 22 starts converting the application datato print data (step S202). At this time, the data conversion unit 22converts the application data to print data of the conversion formatspecified by the conversion format data. Meanwhile, the data conversionunit 22 records the status of the conversion “start conversion” or“converting” for the item “status” in the data set of the managementinformation 90D generated by the data conversion request receiving unit21. The data conversion unit 22 may periodically update the status ofthe conversion in accordance with the operation.

The data conversion unit 22 indicates the print data sending unit 23 towait for a request of sending print data from the image processingapparatus 300 (step S203). At this time, the data conversion unit 22outputs the printer ID data to the print data sending unit 23.

Then, the print data sending unit 23 starts waiting for the request ofsending print data from the image processing apparatus 300 identified bythe printer ID data (step S204). When the print data sending unit 23receives the request of sending print data from the identified imageprocessing apparatus 300, the print data sending unit 23 accesses themanagement information storing unit 90, and refers to the statusinformation of the management information 90D specified by the receivedjob ID data. When the status information is “start conversion” or“converting”, the print data sending unit 23 responds to the imageprocessing apparatus 300 which has sent the request that the applicationdata to be processed specified by the request is now being converted.When the status information is “converted (completed)”, the print datasending unit 23 obtains the converted and stored print data based on theaccess path data, and sends the converted print data converted from theapplication to be processed specified by the job ID data included in therequest of sending print data, to the image processing apparatus 300.

(Operation by Image Processing Apparatus 300)

When the image processing apparatus 300 receives the request ofobtaining the print data and printing the obtained print data from thedata processing apparatus 100, the print request receiving unit 31indicates the print data obtaining unit 32 to send the request ofsending print data (step S301). At this time, the print requestreceiving unit 31 outputs the job ID data and the converting apparatusdata included in the received print request data PRD to the print dataobtaining unit 32.

Then, the print data obtaining unit 32 sends the request of sendingprint data to the data conversion apparatus 200 (step S302). At thistime, the print data obtaining unit 32 accesses the data conversionapparatus 200 identified by the converting apparatus data, and sends therequest of sending print data by sending the request command of sendingprint data of the application data to be processed including the job IDdata (step S4011). At this time, when the application data identified bythe job ID data is being converted by the data conversion apparatus 200,the fact that the application data is being converted is sent to theprint data obtaining unit 32, for example (step S4012).

Further at this time, the print data obtaining unit 32 accesses thecontrol information storing unit 80 and controls communication with thedata conversion apparatus 200 based on the response time limit set inthe control information 80D. Specifically, when the status informationis sent from the data conversion apparatus 200, the print data obtainingunit 32 repeats sending the request to the data conversion apparatus 200with the inquiring time interval set in the control information 80D,“300 (sec)”, for example. When there is no response from the dataconversion apparatus 200 more than the response time limit set in thecontrol information 80D, “60 (sec)”, for example, the print dataobtaining unit 32 performs the predetermined error operation (forexample, sending an error notice to the data processing apparatus 100which has sent the print request data PRD) and ends the operation ofsending the request.

(Operation by Data Conversion Apparatus 200)

When the data conversion unit 22 of the data conversion apparatus 200completes the conversion of the application data to the print data, thedata conversion unit 22 stores the print data in the predeterminedstorage area (step S205). At this time, the data conversion unit 22records the access path to the stored converted print data for the item“access path” of the management information 90D. Further, the dataconversion unit 22 updates the status of the conversion for the item“status” of the management information 90D to “converted (completed)”.

(Operation by Image Processing Apparatus 300)

At this time, when the print data obtaining unit 32 of the imageprocessing apparatus 300 sends the request of sending print data to thedata conversion apparatus 200 identified by the converting apparatusdata (step S4021), the converted print data is sent from the dataconversion apparatus 200 (step S4022).

With this operation, the print data obtaining unit 32 ends sending therequest of sending print data, and indicates the print control unit 33to print the obtained print data (step S303). At this time, the printdata obtaining unit 32 outputs the received print data to the printcontrol unit 33.

Then, the print control unit 33 outputs the print data to the plotter(not shown in the drawings) included in the image processing apparatus300, and performs printing in accordance with a predetermined printingcondition (step S304).

As described above, according to the print control system 1 of theembodiment, the data processing apparatus 100 requests obtaining theprint data and printing the obtained print data to the image processingapparatus 300 selected to print as well as requesting the converting ofthe application data to the print data to the data conversion apparatus200.

Thus, the print control system 1 of the embodiment is capable ofproviding an environment in which the image processing apparatus 300selected to print dynamically obtains the print data from the dataconversion apparatus 200 to print the print data.

Therefore, according to the print control system 1 of the embodiment,the data conversion request unit 11 of the data processing apparatus 100connected to the internal network N sends the conversion request dataTRD including the application data to be processed to the dataconversion apparatus 200 connected to the external network I forrequesting the converting of the application data to print data. Then,the data conversion unit 22 of the data conversion apparatus 200converts the received application data to the print data.

Further, the print request unit 13 of the data processing apparatus 100sends the print request data PRD including the converting apparatus datato the image processing apparatus 300 selected to print connected to theinternal network N for requesting the printing. Then, the imageprocessing apparatus 300 sends a request of sending the print data tothe data conversion apparatus 200 selected to convert by the print dataobtaining unit 32 and prints the obtained print data by the printcontrol unit 33.

With this, the print control system 1 of the embodiment is capable ofproviding an environment in which the image processing apparatus 300selected to print dynamically obtains the print data from the dataconversion apparatus 200, and prints the obtained print data. Thus, itis possible to perform a pseudo-push type printing using the dataconversion apparatus 200 connected to the external network I.

Alternative Example

In the above embodiment, the data conversion apparatus 200 is configuredto perform a data conversion of the application data to be processedreceived from the data processing apparatus 100 in a received order.

In this example, the data processing apparatus 100 sends a request ofconverting application data to print data in which the order of dataconversion is indicated, to the data conversion apparatus 200.

With this, according to the example, an environment in which the orderof data conversion is controlled can be provided.

It is to be noted that, in the explanation of the drawings, the samecomponents are given the same reference numerals, and explanations arenot repeated.

(Print Control Function)

In this example, functions of the data conversion request unit 11 of thedata processing apparatus 100 and the data conversion unit 22 of thedata conversion apparatus 200 are different from those of the aboveembodiment.

(Data Processing Apparatus 100)

The data conversion request unit 11 sends the conversion request dataTRD as shown in FIG. 10, for example, to the data conversion apparatus200 for requesting a conversion of the application data to be processedto print data.

FIG. 10 is a view showing another example of the conversion request dataTRD.

As shown in FIG. 10, the conversion request data TRD includes datacorresponding to an item “priority” in addition to the conversion formatdata, the job ID data, the printer ID data or the like.

Data corresponding to the item “priority” (hereinafter simply referredto as “priority data”) indicates a priority value by which the order ofconversion is determined. The priority data may be a stepwise valueindicating priority such as one of 1 to 5, for example. The prioritydata may be selected by the user via an operation panel.

The data conversion request unit 11 displays an operation panel capableof inputting or selecting the priority data, generates the conversionrequest data TRD including the application data based on the prioritydata input or selected via the operation panel, and sends the conversionrequest data TRD to the data conversion apparatus 200.

With this, the data processing apparatus 100 of the embodiment sends therequest of converting application data to print data in which the orderof data conversion is indicated, to the data conversion apparatus 200.

(Data Conversion Apparatus 200)

When the data conversion request receiving unit 21 receives the requestof converting application data to print data, the data conversion unit22 controls a spooling operation in a data conversion as shown in FIG.11, for example.

FIG. 11 is a view showing an example of the spooling operation of theexample. (A) of FIG. 11 shows an example of the spooling operation inaccordance with a received order. (B) of FIG. 11 shows a spoolingoperation in accordance with an order of priority.

As shown in (A), in the above embodiment, when the data conversionrequest receiving unit 21 receives the application data to be processedfrom the data processing apparatus 100, the received application data tobe processed are stored in a spooler in the received order and then, theapplication data to be processed are converted to corresponding printdata in the stored order. Thus, the data conversion unit 22 performs thedata conversion in accordance with “First In First Out (FIFO)”.

In this example, as shown in (B), when the data conversion apparatus 200receives the application data to be processed from the data processingapparatus 100, the received application data to be processed are storedin the spooler in an order based on the priority data included in theconversion request data TRD. Then, the application data to be processedare converted to corresponding print data in the stored order. Thus, inthis example, the received application data to be processed are sortedin the order based on the priority data included in the conversionrequest data TRD. As a result, the data conversion unit 22 converts theapplication data in an order of priority (sort order).

As described above, in the data conversion apparatus 200 of the example,the order of converting the application data to be processed iscontrolled in accordance with a priority.

Second Embodiment

In the print control system 1, it is necessary to uniquely set the jobID data. Thus, in this embodiment, the job ID data are managed(allocated) at the data conversion apparatus 200 side.

Thus, according to the embodiment, the data conversion apparatus 200automatically issues job ID data when receiving the request ofconverting application data to print data, and sends the issued data jobID data to the processing apparatus 100.

It is to be noted that, in the explanation of the drawings, the samecomponents are given the same reference numerals, and explanations arenot repeated.

(Print Control Function)

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing an example of the print controlfunction of the embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 12, in this embodiment, the data conversion unit 22 ofthe data conversion apparatus 200 includes a job ID issuing unit 211.Further, in this embodiment, the functions of the data conversionrequest unit 11 and the print request unit 13 of the data processingapparatus 100 and the data conversion unit 22 of the data conversionapparatus 200 are different from those of the first embodiment.

(Data Processing Apparatus 100 and Data Conversion Apparatus 200)

In the data processing apparatus 100, the data conversion request unit11 sends the conversion request data TRD as shown in FIG. 13A, forexample, to the data conversion apparatus 200 for requesting theconverting to the print data. Then, in the data conversion apparatus200, upon receiving the request of converting application data to printdata, the data conversion request receiving unit 21 issues job ID datafor the received application data to be processed and sends the issuedjob ID to the data processing apparatus 100 in response.

FIG. 13A is a view showing an example of the conversion request data TRDof the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 13A, the conversion request data TRDincludes the conversion format data, the printer ID data or the like,but does not include the job ID data.

Referring back to FIG. 12, in the data processing apparatus 100, when auser selects application data (job) to be processed and the imageprocessing apparatus 300 to print via the operation panel, the dataconversion request unit 11 accepts the selections. At this time, thedata conversion request unit 11 does not issue job ID data for theselected application data to be processed. The data conversion requestunit 11 generates the conversion request data TRD including the selectedapplication data, and sends the conversion request data TRD to the dataconversion apparatus 200.

In the data conversion apparatus 200, when the data conversion requestreceiving unit 21 receives the request of converting application data toprint data, the job ID issuing unit 211 issues unique job ID data forthe application data included in the received request of convertingapplication data to print data.

FIG. 13B is a view showing an example of job ID notification data JRD.

As shown in FIG. 13B, the job ID notification data JRD includes the jobID data corresponding to the item “job ID”. The job ID data is a valueissued by the job ID issuing unit 211 of the data conversion requestreceiving unit 21.

Referring back to FIG. 12, the data conversion request receiving unit 21sends the job ID notification data JRD including the job ID data issuedby the job ID issuing unit 211 to the data processing apparatus 100 as areply.

At this time, the data conversion request receiving unit 21 accesses themanagement information storing unit 90, and generates the data set forthe received conversion request data TRD by registering the job ID dataissued by the job ID issuing unit 211 and the printer ID data includedin the received conversion request data TRD for the item “job ID” andthe item “printer ID”, respectively.

Then, in the data processing apparatus 100, the data conversion requestunit 11 receives the job ID notification data JRD sent from the dataconversion request receiving unit 21 of the data conversion apparatus200, outputs the job ID data included in the job ID notification dataJRD to the print request unit 13 with the converting apparatus data andindicates the print request unit 13 to send a request of obtaining theprint data and printing the obtained print data.

As described above, in the print control system 1 of the embodiment, thedata conversion apparatus 200 issues the job ID data when receiving therequest of converting application data to print data from the dataprocessing apparatus 100, and replies the issued job ID data to the dataprocessing apparatus 100 which has sent the request.

As described above, the print control function of the embodiment isactualized by a combination of the components.

The operation of the print control function of the embodiment isexplained in detail with respect to a sequence diagram.

FIG. 14 is a sequence diagram showing an example of an operation ofprint control of the embodiment. For the operation shown in FIG. 14,processes after step S201 and processes after step S301 are the same asthose shown in FIG. 9, and thus the explanation is not repeated. Onlysteps S101 to S114 which are different from those shown in FIG. 9 areexplained.

(Operation by Data Processing Apparatus 100)

As shown in FIG. 14, upon an instruction from the user, the dataconversion request unit 11 of the data processing apparatus 100 displaysan operation panel and accepts selections of application data to beprocessed and the image processing apparatus 300 to print the selectedapplication data. Then, the data conversion request unit 11 indicatesthe printer information obtaining unit 12 to obtain the printerinformation of the selected image processing apparatus 300 (step S101).When the printer information obtaining unit 12 obtains the printerinformation, the data conversion request unit 11 refers to the printerinformation obtained by the printer information obtaining unit 12 (stepS102).

Then, the data conversion request unit 11 generates the conversionrequest data TRD including the selected application data, and theconversion format data and the printer ID data obtained from the printerinformation of the selected image processing apparatus 300 (step S110).At this time, the data conversion request unit 11 does not issue the jobID data and the conversion request data TRD does not include the job IDdata. The data conversion request unit 11 sends the conversion requestdata TRD for requesting the converting of application data to print datato the data conversion apparatus 200 (step S112).

(Operation by Data Conversion Apparatus 200)

When the data conversion apparatus 200 receives the request ofconverting application data to print data from the data processingapparatus 100, the data conversion request receiving unit 21 indicatesthe job ID issuing unit 211 to issue job ID data for the applicationdata included in the received conversion request data TRD (step S114).The data conversion request receiving unit 21 generates the job IDnotification data JRD including the issued job ID data, and sends thegenerated job ID notification data JRD to the data processing apparatus100 (step S116).

Subsequently, the data conversion request receiving unit 21 indicatesthe data conversion unit 22 to convert the received application data toprint data (step S201). Then, the data conversion unit 22 converts theapplication data to the print data.

(Operation by Data Processing Apparatus 100)

In the data processing apparatus 100, when the job ID notification dataJRD is sent from the data conversion apparatus 200, the data conversionrequest unit 11 indicates the print request unit 13 to send a request ofprinting (step S107). At this time, the data conversion request unit 11outputs the received job ID data and the converting apparatus data tothe print request unit 13.

Then, the print request unit 13 generates the print request data PRDincluding the job ID data and the converting apparatus data (step S108).The print request unit 13 sends the print request data PRD forrequesting the obtaining of the print data and printing the obtainedprint data to the image processing apparatus 300 (step S109).

(Operation by Image Processing Apparatus 300)

When the image processing apparatus 300 receives the request ofobtaining the print data and printing the obtained print data from thedata processing apparatus 100, the print request receiving unit 31indicates the print data obtaining unit 32 to send a request of sendingprint data (step S301). Then, the image processing apparatus 300performs operations of obtaining the print data from the data conversionapparatus 200 and printing the obtained print data.

As described above, according to the print control system 1 of theembodiment, the data conversion request unit 11 of the data processingapparatus 100 connected to the internal network N sends the request dataTRD including the application data to be processed for requesting theconverting of the application data to the print data to the dataconversion apparatus 200 connected to the external network I. Then, thedata conversion request receiving unit 21 of the data conversionapparatus 200 issues the job ID data for the application data to beprocessed.

With this, in the data conversion apparatus 200, the data conversionrequest receiving unit 21 sends the job ID notification data JRDincluding the issued job ID data to the data processing apparatus 100.Subsequently, in the data conversion apparatus 200, the data conversionunit 22 converts the received application data to the print data. Theprint data is corresponded with the job ID data.

In the data processing apparatus 100, when the data conversion apparatus200 sends the job ID notification data JRD, the print request unit 13sends the print request data PRD including the job ID data issued by thedata conversion apparatus 200 and the converting apparatus data to theimage processing apparatus 300 selected to print connected to theinternal network N. With this, in the image processing apparatus 300,the print data obtaining unit 32 sends a request of sending the printdata to the conversion apparatus 200 selected to convert based on theconverting apparatus data and the job ID data, and the print controlunit 33 prints the obtained print data.

With this, in the print control system 1 of the embodiment, similar tothe first embodiment, it is possible to perform a pseudo-push typeprinting using the data conversion apparatus 200 connected to theexternal network I.

Alternative Example

The conversion request data TRD sent from the data processing apparatus100 to the data conversion apparatus 200 may potentially not include theconversion format data, in addition to the job ID data. In such a case,the conversion request data TRD may include only the printer ID data inaddition to the application data. In this case, the processes are asfollows.

When the data conversion apparatus 200 receives the conversion requestdata TRD from the data processing apparatus 100, the data conversionrequest receiving unit 21 indicates the data conversion unit 22 toconvert the received application data to print data. Then, uponreceiving the received application data, the printer ID data, and theissued job ID data from the data conversion request receiving unit 21,the data conversion unit 22 enters a wait state for the data conversion.

In the image processing apparatus 300, upon receiving the print requestdata PRD from the data processing apparatus 100, the print requestreceiving unit 31 sends the conversion format data such as the PDLidentifier adaptable for the image processing apparatus 300, to the dataconversion request receiving unit 21 of the data conversion apparatus200.

When the data conversion apparatus 200 receives the conversion formatdata from the image processing apparatus 300, the data conversionrequest receiving unit 21 outputs the received conversion format data tothe data conversion unit 22. Then, the data conversion unit 22 startsconverting the application data based on the received conversion formatdata.

As described above, in this example, the same merits can be obtained bya different method as the print control function of the embodiment.

Third Embodiment

In the above embodiment, the image processing apparatus 300 isconfigured to repeat sending the request of sending print data after apredetermined period when the status information is sent to the imageprocessing apparatus 300 from the data conversion apparatus 200 untilthe print data is sent. At this time, data are periodically sent andreceived between the image processing apparatus 300 and the dataconversion apparatus 200. Thus, if there are a large number of imageprocessing apparatuses 300 which send the request to the data conversionapparatus 200 exists, for example, a load of a data communicationprocess becomes large to cause a delay in printing.

Thus, in this embodiment, the data conversion apparatus 200 isconfigured to predict time necessary to convert the application data tobe processed to print data when receiving the request of convertingapplication data to print data and send the predicted time to the dataprocessing apparatus 100. With this, in this embodiment, an environmentin which the load of a data communication process between the imageprocessing apparatus 300 and the data conversion apparatus 200 isreduced can be provided.

It is to be noted that, in the explanation of the drawings, the samecomponents are given the same reference numerals, and explanations arenot repeated.

(Print Control Function)

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing an example of the print controlfunction of the embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 15, in this embodiment, the data conversion unit 22 ofthe data conversion apparatus 200 further includes a time calculationunit 212 in addition to the job ID issuing unit 211 shown in FIG. 12 ofthe second embodiment. Further, in this embodiment, the functions of thedata conversion request unit 11 and the print request unit 13 of thedata processing apparatus 100, the data conversion unit 22 of the dataconversion apparatus 200, and the print data obtaining unit 32 of theimage processing apparatus 300 are different from those of the secondembodiment.

(Data Processing Apparatus 100 and Data Conversion Apparatus 200)

In the data processing apparatus 100, the data conversion request unit11 sends the conversion request data TRD as shown in FIG. 16A, forexample, to the data conversion apparatus 200 for requesting theconverting to the print data. Then, in the conversion apparatus 200,upon receiving the request of converting application data to print data,the data conversion request receiving unit 21 issues job ID data by thejob ID issuing unit 211 and predicts time necessary for converting theapplication data to be processed to print data by the time calculationunit 212. Subsequently, the data conversion request receiving unit 21sends the issued job ID data and the predicted time to the dataprocessing apparatus 100 in response.

FIG. 16A is a view showing an example of conversion request data TRD ofthe embodiment. As shown in FIG. 16A, the conversion request data TRDincludes data corresponding to an item such as “size”, which indicatessize of the application data to be processed, in addition to theconversion format data and the printer ID data.

Data corresponding to the item “size” (hereinafter simply referred to“size data”) indicates the size of the application data to be processed.The size data may be a data size value or a file size value (hereinaftersimply referred to as a “data size value”) capable of being obtainedfrom a property or the like of the application data.

Referring back to FIG. 15, in the data processing apparatus 100, when auser selects application data (job) to be processed and the imageprocessing apparatus 300 to print via the operation panel, the dataconversion request unit 11 accepts the selections. At this time, thedata conversion request unit 11 obtains the size data from the propertyor the like of the selected application data. Then, the data conversionrequest unit 11 generates the conversion request data TRD including theselected application data, the conversion format data, the printer IDdata and the data size value, and sends the conversion request data TRDto the data conversion apparatus 200.

In the data conversion apparatus 200, when the data conversion requestreceiving unit 21 receives the request of converting application data toprint data, the time calculation unit 212 calculates time necessary forconverting the received application data to print data of the setconversion format based on the received conversion format data and thesize data.

FIG. 16B is a view showing an example of job ID-predicted timenotification data JTRD.

Data corresponding to the item “predicted time” (hereinafter referred toas “predicted time data”) indicates a value of predicted time necessaryfor converting the application data to be processed to print data. Thepredicted time data is predicted (calculated) by the time calculationunit 212 of the data conversion request receiving unit 21.

As shown in FIG. 16B, the job ID-predicted time notification data JTRDincludes the job ID data and the predicted time data. The job ID data isissued by the job ID issuing unit 211 of the data conversion requestreceiving unit 21.

FIG. 17 is a view showing an example of calculation data 212D forcalculating the predicted time.

When calculating the predicted time, the time calculation unit 212 mayrefer to the calculation data 212D shown in FIG. 17, for example, andcalculates the predicted time in accordance with a method of calculationpreviously set for each of the conversion format data.

As shown in FIG. 17, the calculation data 212D includes one or more datasets in each of which the conversion format data and the method ofcalculation corresponding with each other. The data set is prepared foreach of the conversion format data.

The item “conversion format” indicates the conversion format data, andmay be PDL identifier or the like. The item “method of calculation”indicates the method of calculation of the predicted time. For the datacorresponding to the item “method of calculation” may be a formula forcalculating the predicted time by inputting size data as a parametervalue.

The conversion format data are previously set based on the conversionformats adaptable for the data conversion apparatus 200. For the methodof calculation, formulas may be obtained by actually convertingapplication data of various data size to print data of variousconversion formats by the data conversion apparatus 200. For theformulas shown in FIG. 17, “x” expresses the data size of original dataand “y” expresses the predicted time necessary for converting theapplication data to print data.

Referring back to FIG. 15, in the data conversion apparatus 200, thetime calculation unit 212 refers to the calculation data 212D andspecifies the “method of calculation” corresponding to the conversionformat data which is the same as the received conversion format data.The time calculation unit 212 inputs the size data as the parametervalue of the specified “method of calculation” and calculates thepredicted time necessary for converting the received application data tothe print data of the specified conversion format. Further, the timecalculation unit 212 adds the calculated predicted time to a receivingtime of the application data (receiving time of the request ofconverting application data to print data) and sets the added value asthe predicted time data.

Then, the data conversion request receiving unit 21 sends the jobID-predicted time notification data JTRD including the job ID dataissued by the job ID issuing unit 211 and the predicted time datacalculated by the time calculation unit 212 to the data processingapparatus 100 in response.

Then, in the data processing apparatus 100, the data conversion requestunit 11 outputs the job ID data and the predicted time data of the jobID-predicted time notification data JTRD received from the dataconversion request receiving unit 21 of the data conversion apparatus200 to the print request unit 13 with the converting apparatus data toindicate to send a request of obtaining the print data and printing theobtained print data.

As described above, in the print control system 1 of the embodiment,upon receiving the request of converting application data to print datafrom the data processing apparatus 100, the data conversion apparatus200 is configured to automatically issue job ID data for the applicationdata included in the request, calculate predicted time data, and replyto the data processing apparatus 100 which has sent the request.

Further, in this embodiment, the time calculation unit 212 is configuredto include the calculation data 212D (the method of calculation isincluded in the software for actualizing the time calculation function).However, alternatively, the calculation data 212D may be stored in apredetermined storage area as external data, and the time calculationunit 212 may access and refer to the calculation data 212D stored in thepredetermined storage area.

(Image Processing Apparatus 300)

The print request unit 13 of the data processing apparatus 100 sends theprint request data PRD as shown in FIG. 18 to the image processingapparatus 300, for example.

FIG. 18 is a view showing an example of the print request data PRD ofthe embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 18, the print request data PRD includes the predictedtime data in addition to the job ID data and the converting apparatusdata.

Referring back to FIG. 15, the print request receiving unit 31 outputsthe job ID data, the converting apparatus data, and the predicted timedata included in the received print request data PRD to the print dataobtaining unit 32 and indicates the print data obtaining unit 32 to senda request of sending print data.

Then, the print data obtaining unit 32 sends the request of sendingprint data to the data conversion apparatus 200 based on the predictedtime data. Specifically, the print data obtaining unit 32 accesses thedata conversion apparatus 200 after the time defined by the predictedtime data has passed and sends the request command of sending print dataincluding the job ID data.

As described above, in the print control system 1 of the embodiment, thedata processing apparatus 100 sends the print request data PRD includingthe predicted time data for the application data to be processed to theimage processing apparatus 300. Then, the image processing apparatus 300controls the timing of obtaining the print data from the data conversionapparatus 200 based on the received predicted time data. Thus, accordingto the print control system 1 of the embodiment, as the image processingapparatus 300 obtains the print data at an appropriate timing after theapplication data to be processed is converted from the data conversionapparatus 200, the load of a data communication process between theapparatuses can be reduced.

It is to be noted that, in the explanation of the drawings, the samecomponents are given the same reference numerals, and explanations arenot repeated.

The operation of the print control function of the embodiment isexplained in detail with respect to a sequence diagram.

FIG. 19 is a sequence diagram showing an example of an operation ofprint control of the embodiment.

(Operation by Data Processing Apparatus 100)

Upon an instruction from the user, the data conversion request unit 11of the data processing apparatus 100 displays an operation panel andaccepts selections of application data to be processed and the imageprocessing apparatus 300 to print the selected application data. Then,the data conversion request unit 11 indicates the printer informationobtaining unit 12 to obtain the printer information of the selectedimage processing apparatus 300 (step S101). Then, the data conversionrequest unit 11 refers to the printer information obtained by theprinter information obtaining unit 12 (step S102).

Subsequently, the data conversion request unit 11 generates theconversion request data TRD including the selected application data, thesize data of the application data obtained from the property or the likeof the application data, and the conversion format data and the printerID data obtained from the printer information (step S120). The dataconversion request unit 11 sends the generated conversion request dataTRD to the data conversion apparatus 200 for requesting the convertingof the application data to print data (step S122).

(Operation by Data Conversion Apparatus 200)

When the data conversion apparatus 200 receives the request ofconverting application data to print data from the data processingapparatus 100, the data conversion request receiving unit 21 indicatesthe job ID issuing unit 211 to issue job ID data for the applicationdata included in the received conversion request data TRD. Further, thedata conversion request receiving unit 21 indicates the time calculationunit 212 to calculate the predicted time necessary for converting thereceived application data to the print data of the set conversion formatbased on the conversion format data and the size data of the receivedconversion request data TRD (step S124). At this time, the timecalculation unit 212 refers to the calculation data 212D, inputs thesize data as the parameter value of the formula corresponding to the setconversion format to obtain the predicted time. Further, the timecalculation unit 212 adds the calculated predicted time to a receivingtime of the request of converting application data to print data togenerate the predicted time data.

The data conversion request receiving unit 21 generates the jobID-predicted time notification data JTRD including the issued job IDdata and the calculated predicted time data, and sends the generated jobID-predicted time notification data JTRD to the data processingapparatus 100 as a reply (step S126).

(Operation by Data Processing Apparatus 100)

In the data processing apparatus 100, when the job ID-predicted timenotification data JTRD is sent from the data conversion apparatus 200,the data conversion request unit 11 indicates the print request unit 13to send a request of printing (step S128). At this time, the dataconversion request unit 11 outputs the job ID data and the predictedtime data of the received job ID-predicted time notification data JTRDand the converting apparatus data to the print request unit 13.

Then, the print request unit 13 generates the print request data PRDincluding the job ID data, the converting apparatus data, and thepredicted time data (step S130). The print request unit 13 sends thegenerated print request data PRD for requesting the obtaining of theprint data and printing the obtained print data to the image processingapparatus 300 (step S132).

(Operation by Data Conversion Apparatus 200)

Referring back to the explanation of the data conversion apparatus 200,when the data conversion apparatus 200 receives the request ofconverting application data to print data from the data processingapparatus 100, the data conversion request receiving unit 21 indicatesthe data conversion unit 22 to convert the received application data toprint data (step S201). At this time, the data conversion requestreceiving unit 21 accesses the management information storing unit 90,records the issued job ID data and the printer ID data included in thereceived conversion request data TRD, and generates a data set of themanagement information 90D for the received request of convertingapplication data to print data.

Then, the data conversion request receiving unit 21 outputs the issuedjob ID data, the application data included in the conversion requestdata TRD, the conversion format data, and the printer ID data to thedata conversion unit 22.

Then, the data conversion unit 22 starts converting the application datato the print data (step S202). At this time, the data conversion unit 22converts the application data to print data of the conversion formatspecified by the conversion format data. Meanwhile, the data conversionunit 22 records the status of the conversion “start conversion” or“converting” for the item “status” in the data set of the managementinformation 90D generated by the data conversion request receiving unit21. The data conversion unit 22 may periodically update the status ofthe conversion in accordance with the operation.

The data conversion unit 22 indicates the print data sending unit 23 towait for a request of sending print data from the image processingapparatus 300 (step S203). At this time, the data conversion unit 22outputs the printer ID data to the print data sending unit 23.

Then, the print data sending unit 23 starts waiting for the request ofsending print data from the image processing apparatus 300 identified bythe printer ID data (step S204). The print data sending unit 23 enters await state for the request of sending print data image from theprocessing apparatus 300.

When the data conversion unit 22 of the data conversion apparatus 200completes the conversion of the application data to the print data, thedata conversion unit 22 stores the print data in the predeterminedstorage area (step S205). At this time, the data conversion unit 22records the access path to the stored converted print data for the item“access path” of the management information 90D. Further, the dataconversion unit 22 updates the status of the conversion for the item“status” of the management information 90D to “converted (completed)”.

When the print data sending unit 23 receives the request of sendingprint data from the identified image processing apparatus 300 after thepredicted time has passed, the print data sending unit 23 accesses themanagement information storing unit 90, and refers to the statusinformation of the management information 90D specified by the receivedjob ID data. As the status information of the management information 90Dis “converted (completed)” at this time, the print data sending unit 23obtains the converted print data based on the access path data, andsends the converted print data to the corresponding image processingapparatus 300 in response.

(Operation by Image Processing Apparatus 300)

When the image processing apparatus 300 receives the request ofobtaining the print data and printing the obtained print data from thedata processing apparatus 100, the print request receiving unit 31indicates the print data obtaining unit 32 to send a request of sendingprint data (step S310). At this time, the print request receiving unit31 outputs the job ID data, the converting apparatus data and thepredicted time data included in the received print request data PRD tothe print data obtaining unit 32.

Then, the print data obtaining unit 32 starts sending the request ofsending print data to the data conversion apparatus 200 based on thepredicted time data (step S302). Specifically, the print data obtainingunit 32 starts sending the request of sending print data after thepredicted time of the predicted time data has passed. At this time, theprint data obtaining unit 32 accesses the data conversion apparatus 200identified by the converting apparatus data, and sends the request ofsending print data by sending a request command of sending print data ofthe application data to be processed including the job ID data (stepS4021). At this time, when the application data identified by the job IDdata is converted to the print data by the data conversion apparatus200, the converted print data is sent to the print data obtaining unit32 (step S4022).

With this operation, the print data obtaining unit 32 ends sending therequest of sending print data, and indicates the print control unit 33to print the obtained print data (step S303). At this time, the printdata obtaining unit 32 outputs the received print data to the printcontrol unit 33.

Then, the print control unit 33 outputs the print data to the plotter(not shown in the drawings) included in the image processing apparatus300, and performs printing in accordance with a predetermined printingcondition (step S304).

As described above, according to the print control system 1 of theembodiment, in the data processing apparatus 100 connected to theinternal network N, the data conversion request unit 11 sends therequest data TRD including the application data to be processed to thedata conversion apparatus 200 connected to the external network I forrequesting a conversion of the application data to print data.

Then, in the data conversion apparatus 200, the data conversion requestreceiving unit 21 issues job ID data for the application data to beprocessed. Further, in the data conversion apparatus 200, the dataconversion request receiving unit 21 calculates the predicted time dataindicating the predicted time necessary for converting the applicationdata to be processed to print data.

Then, in the data conversion apparatus 200, the data conversion requestreceiving unit 21 sends the job ID-predicted time notification data JTRDincluding the issued job ID data and the calculated predicted time datato the data processing apparatus 100 in response. Thereafter, in thedata conversion apparatus 200, the data conversion unit 22 converts thereceived application data to print data.

Further, when the data processing apparatus 100 receives a response fromthe data conversion apparatus 200, the print request unit 13 sends therequest data PRD including the converting apparatus data, and the issuedjob ID data and the calculated predicted time data by the dataconversion apparatus 200 to the image processing apparatus 300 selectedto print connected to the internal network N for requesting theprinting.

Then, in the image processing apparatus 300, the print data obtainingunit 32 requests sending the print data based on the job ID data inaccordance with a controlled timing after the predicted time has passedbased on the predicted time data to the data conversion apparatus 200selected to convert. Then, the print control unit 33 prints the obtainedprint data.

With this, the print control system 1 of the embodiment can provide anenvironment in which the load of a data communication process betweenthe image processing apparatus 300 and the data conversion apparatus 200is reduced to perform a pseudo-push type printing using the dataconversion apparatus 200 connected to the external network I.

Fourth Embodiment

In the print control system 1, the data conversion apparatus 200 mayconvert application data to print data using a conversion format forwhich conversion time is short when considering a speed of a printingoperation.

Thus, in this embodiment, the data conversion apparatus 200 isconfigured to predict a time necessary for converting application datato print data of each of conversion formats adaptable for the imageprocessing apparatus 300 selected to print when receiving a request ofconverting application data to print data. Then, the data conversionapparatus 200 is configured to determine the conversion format for whichthe predicted time is the shortest to be the conversion format of printdata converted from the application data to be processed. With this, inthis embodiment, a printing environment which is convenient and with ahigh-speed can be provided.

It is to be noted that, in the explanation of the drawings, the samecomponents are given the same reference numerals, and explanations arenot repeated.

(Print Control Function)

FIG. 20 is a block diagram showing an example of the print controlfunction of the embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 20, in this embodiment, the data conversion unit 22 ofthe data conversion apparatus 200 further includes a conversion formatdetermining unit 213 in addition to the job ID issuing unit 211 and thetime calculation unit 212 shown in FIG. 15 of the third embodiment.Further, in this embodiment, the functions of the data conversionrequest unit 11 and the print request unit 13 of the data processingapparatus 100, and the data conversion unit 22 of the data conversionapparatus 200 are different from those of the second embodiment.

(Data Processing Apparatus 100 and Data Conversion Apparatus 200)

In the data processing apparatus 100, the data conversion request unit11 sends the conversion request data TRD to the data conversionapparatus 200 for requesting a conversion to the print data. At thistime, the conversion request data TRD sent from the data conversionrequest unit 11 to the data conversion apparatus 200 includes theprinter ID data, the size data or the like, but does not include theconversion format data.

In the data conversion apparatus 200, when the data conversion requestreceiving unit 21 receives the request of converting application data toprint data, the data conversion request receiving unit 21 sends the jobID issued for the received application data to be processed and thepredicted time necessary for converting the application data to beprocessed to the data processing apparatus 100 in response.

At this time, the time calculation unit 212 of the data conversionrequest receiving unit 21 refers to the calculation data 212D, andcalculates predicted times necessary for converting the receivedapplication data to print data for all of the conversion formats inaccordance with the predetermined methods of calculation based on thereceived size data. In other words, the time calculation unit 212calculates the predicted times for all of the conversion formats whichare capable of being printed by the image processing apparatus 300 toprint. Specifically, for example, when the image processing apparatus300 is capable of printing print data whose conversion format are “PCL”,“PS”, and “RPCS”, the data conversion request receiving unit 21calculates predicted times necessary for converting the receivedapplication data to print data of these three conversion formats inaccordance with the predetermined methods for each of the conversionformats.

Then, the conversion format determining unit 213 of the data conversionrequest receiving unit 21 determines the conversion format to be usedbased on the predicted time data calculated by the time calculation unit212. At this time, the conversion format determining unit 213 comparesthe calculated predicted time data and selects the conversion format bywhich the predicted time becomes the shortest as the conversion formatto be used. In other words, the conversion format determining unit 213determines the conversion format by which the conversion of theapplication data to the print data is completed the fastest as theconversion format to be used.

Then, in the data conversion apparatus 200, the data conversion requestreceiving unit 21 sends the job ID-predicted time notification data JTRDincluding the job ID data issued by the job ID issuing unit 211, thepredicted time data calculated by the time calculation unit 212 andselected by the conversion format determining unit 213 to the dataprocessing apparatus 100 in response.

Further, the data conversion request receiving unit 21 outputs theconversion format data determined by the conversion format determiningunit 213 to the data conversion unit 22 with the received applicationdata and the printer ID data and instructs to convert the applicationdata to print data.

As described above, according to the print control system 1 of theembodiment, the data conversion apparatus 200 determines the conversionformat by which the conversion time necessary for converting theapplication data to the print data becomes the shortest as theconversion format to be used based on the predicted time data for theconversion formats applicable for the image processing apparatus 300 toprint.

It is to be noted that, in the explanation of the drawings, the samecomponents are given the same reference numerals, and explanations arenot repeated.

The operation of the print control function of the embodiment isexplained in detail with respect to a sequence diagram.

FIG. 21 is a sequence diagram showing an example of an operation ofprint control of the embodiment. For the operation shown in FIG. 21,processes from steps S101 to S120, steps S128 to S132, after step S203,and after step S310 are the same as those shown in FIG. 19, and thus theexplanation is not repeated. Only steps S133 to S135, and steps S210 andS212 which are different from those shown in FIG. 19 are explained.

(Operation by Data Processing Apparatus 100)

As shown in FIG. 21, the data conversion request unit 11 of the dataprocessing apparatus 100 sends a request of converting application datato print data with the conversion request data TRD to the dataconversion apparatus 200 (step S133). At this time, as described above,the conversion request data TRD does not include the conversion formatdata.

(Operation by Data Conversion Apparatus 200)

When the data conversion apparatus 200 receives the request ofconverting application data to print data from the data processingapparatus 100, the job ID issuing unit 211 of the data conversionrequest receiving unit 21 issues job ID data for the receivedapplication data included in the received conversion request data TRD(step S134).

Further, in step S134, the time calculation unit 212 of the dataconversion request receiving unit 21 calculates predicted timesnecessary for converting the received application data to print data forall of the conversion formats capable of being printed by the imageprocessing apparatus 300 based on the size data included in the receivedconversion request data TRD (STEP 1 in step S134). At this time, thetime calculation unit 212 refers to the calculation data 212D, inputsthe data size as a parameter value for each of the formulascorresponding to the conversion formats to obtain the predicted time foreach of the conversion formats, and adds the predicted times to thereceiving time of the request of converting application data to printdata.

Then, the conversion format determining unit 213 of the data conversionrequest receiving unit 21 determines the conversion format to be usedbased on the calculated predicted time data to be the conversion formatdata (STEP 2 in step S134). At this time, as described above, theconversion format determining unit 213 compares the predicted time datafor each of the conversion formats, and selects the conversion format bywhich the predicted time is the shortest to be the conversion format tobe used to be the conversion format data.

Then, the data conversion request receiving unit 21 generates the jobID-predicted time notification data JTRD including the issued job IDdata and the predicted time data of the selected conversion format, andsends the generated job ID-predicted time notification data JTRD to thedata processing apparatus 100 as a response (step S135).

(Operation by Data Conversion Apparatus 200)

Further, when the conversion format determining unit 213 determines theconversion format to be used, the data conversion request receiving unit21 indicates the data conversion unit 22 to convert the receivedapplication data to the print data (step S201). At this time, the dataconversion request receiving unit 21 accesses the management informationstoring unit 90, records the issued job ID data and the printer ID dataincluded in the received conversion request data TRD, and generates adata set of the management information 90D for the received request ofconverting application data to print data. Further, the data conversionrequest receiving unit 21 outputs the issued job ID data, the determinedconversion format data, and the application data, and the printer IDdata included in the conversion request data TRD to the data conversionunit 22.

Then, the data conversion unit 22 starts converting the application datato the print data (step S202). At this time, the data conversion unit 22converts the application data to the print data of the data format basedon the determined conversion format data, by which the data conversionfinished first. Meanwhile, the data conversion unit 22 records thestatus of the conversion “start conversion” or “converting” for the item“status” in the data set of the management information 90D generated bythe data conversion request receiving unit 21. The data conversion unit22 may periodically update the status of the conversion in accordancewith the operation.

As described above, according to the print control system 1 of theembodiment, the data processing apparatus 100 connected to the internalnetwork N sends the request data TRD including the application data tobe processed by the data conversion request unit 11, to the dataconversion apparatus 200 connected to the external network I forrequesting the converting of the application data to print data. Inresponse, in the data conversion apparatus 200, the data conversionrequest receiving unit 21 issues job ID data for the application data tobe processed. Further, in the data conversion apparatus 200, the dataconversion request receiving unit 21 calculates the predicted timenecessary for converting the application data to be processed as thepredicted time data. Further, in the data conversion apparatus 200, thedata conversion request receiving unit 21 determines the conversionformat by which the predicted time becomes the shortest as theconversion format to be used.

With this, in the data conversion apparatus 200, the data conversionrequest receiving unit 21 sends the job ID-predicted time notificationdata JTRD including the issued job ID data and the predicted time dataof the determined conversion format to the data processing apparatus 100in response. Thereafter, in the data conversion apparatus 200, the dataconversion unit 22 converts the application data based on the conversionformat data of the determined conversion format to the print data.

Further, when the data processing apparatus 100 receives the job ID dataand the predicted time data of the application data to be processed fromthe data conversion apparatus 200, the print request unit 13 sends arequest of printing to the image processing apparatus 300 selected toprint connected to the internal network N by sending the print requestdata PRD including the issued job ID data, the predicted time data, andconverting apparatus data.

In response to this, in the image processing apparatus 300, the printdata obtaining unit 32 sends a request of sending the print data to thedata conversion apparatus 200 selected to convert based on the job IDdata in accordance with a timing controlled by the predicted time data.Then, when the print data is obtained, the print control unit 33 pintsthe obtained print data.

With this, according to the print control system 1 of the embodiment, aprinting environment which is convenient with a high-speed can beprovided. Further, the print control system 1 is capable of providing apseudo-push type printing using the data conversion apparatus 200connected to the external network I.

The “print control function” of the above embodiments can be actualizedby executing the programs in which the above processes explained withreference to drawings are coded by programming languages in accordancewith the respective operating environments (platforms) by the arithmeticunits (CPU) of the apparatuses (the data processing apparatuses 100, thedata conversion apparatuses 200, the image processing apparatuses 300and the like) of the print control system 1.

The above programs may be stored in a computer readable recording medium103 a. With this, for example, for the data processing apparatus 100,the above programs may be installed in the data processing apparatus 100via the external I/F 103. Further, as the data processing apparatus 100includes the communication I/F 107, the above programs may be downloadedusing an electrical communication line and installed.

According to the embodiments, a print control system, a method ofcontrolling printing, a data processing apparatus, and a recordingmedium in which a pseudo-push type printing using a data conversionapparatus connected to an external network data conversion apparatus canbe performed is provided.

The individual constituents of the print control system 1 may beembodied by arbitrary combinations of hardware and software, typified bya CPU of an arbitrary computer, memory, a program loaded in the memoryso as to embody the constituents illustrated in the drawings, storageunits for storing the program such as a hard disk, and an interface fornetwork connection. It may be understood by those skilled in the artthat methods and devices for the embodiment allow various modifications.

Although a preferred embodiment of the print control system 1 has beenspecifically illustrated and described, it is to be understood thatminor modifications may be made therein without departing from the spritand scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

The present invention is not limited to the specifically disclosedembodiments, and variations and modifications may be made withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention.

The present application is based on Japanese Priority Application No.2011-229742 filed on Oct. 19, 2011, the entire contents of which arehereby incorporated by reference.

What is claimed is:
 1. A print control system comprising: a dataconversion apparatus; an image processing apparatus; a data processingapparatus; a data conversion request unit, at the data processingapparatus, configured to send conversion request data to the dataconversion apparatus in response to a user instruction, the conversionrequest data including application data to be converted to print data; aprint request unit, at the data processing apparatus, configured to sendprint request data to the image processing apparatus without passingthrough the data conversion apparatus in response to the userinstruction, the print request data including a request to print theapplication data included in the conversion request data sent to theconversion apparatus by the data conversion request unit; a dataconversion unit, at the data conversion apparatus, configured to convertthe application data included in the conversion request data to theprint data; a print data obtaining unit, at the image processingapparatus, configured to send a request of sending the print data to thedata conversion apparatus in response to receiving the print requestdata; a print data sending unit, at the data conversion apparatus,configured to receive the request of sending the print data from theprint data obtaining unit at the image processing apparatus and send theprint data to the image processing apparatus in response to the requestof sending the print data when the print data is already converted fromthe application data; a print control unit, at the image processingapparatus, configured to print the print data; and a time calculationunit, at the data conversion apparatus, configured to calculatepredicted time necessary for converting the application data from thedata processing apparatus and send predicted time data indicating thecalculated predicted time to the data processing apparatus, wherein theprint data sending unit is configured to send status informationindicating that the print data is not yet converted from the applicationdata, to the image processing apparatus in response to the request ofsending the print data when the print data is not yet converted from theapplication data, wherein the print data obtaining unit is configured tosend the request of sending the print data again when the imageprocessing apparatus receives the status information from the dataconversion apparatus, wherein the print request unit of the dataprocessing apparatus is configured to send the print request dataincluding the predicted time data to the image processing apparatus, andwherein the print data obtaining unit of the image processing apparatusis configured to send the request of sending the print data after thepredicted time has passed based on the predicted time data, to the dataconversion apparatus.
 2. The print control system according to claim 1,wherein the data conversion request unit of the data processingapparatus is configured to send the conversion request data includingconversion format data indicating a conversion format of the print datato be converted from the application data and size data indicating adata size of the application data in addition to the application data,and wherein the time calculation unit of the data conversion apparatusis configured to specify, based on the conversion format data, a formulacapable of obtaining predicted time necessary for converting theapplication data to print data of the conversion format by inputting thedata size of the application data and calculate the predicted time usingthe specified formula by inputting the data size of the application dataindicated by the size data.
 3. The print control system according toclaim 1, further comprising: a conversion format determining unit, atthe data conversion apparatus, wherein the time calculation unit isconfigured to calculate the predicted times for plural conversionformats, wherein the conversion format determining unit is configured todetermine the conversion format for which the predicted time becomes theshortest as the conversion format to be used for converting theapplication data to the print data and send the predicted time of thedetermined conversion format to the data processing apparatus, andwherein the conversion unit is configured to convert the applicationdata to the print data of the conversion format determined by theconversion format determining unit.
 4. The print control systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus and thedata conversion apparatus are connected via an external network wherethe image processing apparatus is secured by a firewall provided betweenthe image processing apparatus and the data conversion apparatus so thatthe data conversion apparatus is capable of sending the print data tothe image processing apparatus only in response to the request ofsending the print data from the image processing apparatus.
 5. The printcontrol system according to claim 1, wherein the user instructionincludes a selection of an image processing apparatus to print theapplication data, wherein the data conversion request unit is configuredto send the conversion request data including the application data andfirst identification data corresponding to the selected image processingapparatus, and wherein the print request unit is configured to send theprint request data to the selected image processing apparatus.
 6. Theprint control system according to claim 1, further comprising: amanagement information storing unit, at the data conversion apparatus,configured to store second identification data corresponding to theapplication data, wherein the print request unit is configured to sendthe print request data including the second identification data, andwherein the print data obtaining unit is configured to send the requestof sending the print data including the second identification data sentby the print request unit.
 7. The print control system according toclaim 6, wherein the print request unit is configured to send the printrequest data further including converting apparatus data indicating thedata conversion apparatus from which the print data to print is to beobtained, wherein the print data obtaining unit is configured to sendthe request of sending the print data to the converting apparatusindicated by the converting apparatus data, and wherein the print datasending unit is configured to send the print data corresponding to theapplication data identified by the second identification data.
 8. Theprint control system according to claim 1, wherein the user instructionreceived by the data conversion request unit is to print the applicationdata, wherein the data conversion request unit is configured to send anindication to send the print request data to the print request unitafter sending the conversion request data to the data conversionapparatus, and wherein the print request unit is configured to send theprint request data to the image processing apparatus upon receiving theindication from the data conversion request unit.
 9. The print controlsystem according to claim 8, further comprising: a managementinformation storing unit, at the data conversion apparatus, configuredto store second identification data corresponding to the applicationdata, wherein the data conversion request unit is configured to send thesecond identification data corresponding to the application data, andconverting apparatus data indicating the data conversion apparatus fromwhich the print data to print is to be obtained, to the print requestunit with the indication to send the print request data to the printrequest unit, and wherein the print request unit is configured to sendthe print request data including the second identification data and theconverting apparatus data.
 10. A method of controlling printing used ina print control system including a data conversion apparatus, an imageprocessing apparatus, and a data processing apparatus, comprising: adata conversion request step, performed by the data processingapparatus, of sending conversion request data to the data conversionapparatus in response to a user instruction, the conversion request dataincluding application data to be converted to print data; a printrequest step, performed by the data processing apparatus, of sendingprint request data to the image processing apparatus without passingthrough the data conversion apparatus in response to the userinstruction, the print request data including a request to print theapplication data included in the conversion request data sent to theconversion apparatus in the data conversion request step; a dataconversion step, performed by the data conversion apparatus, ofconverting the application data included in the conversion request datato the print data; a print data obtaining step, performed by the imageprocessing apparatus, of sending a request of sending the print data tothe data conversion apparatus in response to receiving the print requestdata; a print data sending step, performed by the data conversionapparatus, of receiving the request of sending the print data from theimage processing apparatus and sending the print data to the imageprocessing apparatus in response to the request of sending the printdata when the print data is already converted from the application data;a print control step, performed by the image processing apparatus, ofprinting the print data; and a time calculation step, performed by thedata conversion apparatus, of calculating predicted time necessary forconverting the application data sent from the data processing apparatusand sending predicted time data indicating the calculated predicted timeto the data processing apparatus, wherein in the print data sendingstep, status information indicating that the print data is not yetconverted from the application data is sent to the image processingapparatus in response to the request of sending the print data when theprint data is not yet converted from the application data, wherein inthe print data obtaining step, the request of sending the print data issent again when the image processing apparatus receives the statusinformation from the data conversion apparatus, wherein in the printrequest step, the print request data including the predicted time datain addition to the converting apparatus data to the image processingapparatus is sent, and wherein in the print data obtaining step, therequest of sending the print data is sent after the predicted time haspassed based on the predicted time data, to the data conversionapparatus.
 11. The method of controlling printing according to claim 10,wherein in the data conversion request step, the conversion request dataincludes conversion format data indicating a conversion format of theprint data to be converted from the application data and size dataindicating a data size of the application data in addition to theapplication data is sent, and wherein the time calculation step includesspecifying, based on the conversion format data, a formula capable ofobtaining predicted time necessary for converting the application datato print data of the conversion format by inputting the data size of theapplication data and calculating the predicted time using the specifiedformula by inputting the data size of the application data indicated bythe size data.
 12. The method of controlling printing according to claim10, further comprising: a conversion format determining step, performedby the data conversion apparatus, and wherein in the time calculationstep, the predicted times for plural conversion formats are calculated,wherein in the conversion format determining step, the conversion formatfor which the predicted time becomes the shortest is determined as theconversion format to be used for converting the application data to theprint data, and wherein in the conversion step, the application data isconverted to the print data of the conversion format determined in theconversion format determining step.
 13. The method of controllingprinting according to claim 10, wherein the user instruction includes aselection of an image processing apparatus to print the applicationdata, wherein in the data conversion request step, the conversionrequest data including the application data and first identificationdata corresponding to the selected image processing apparatus is sent,and wherein in the print request step, the print request data is sent tothe selected image processing apparatus.
 14. The method of controllingprinting according to claim 10, further comprising: a managementinformation storing step, performed by the data conversion apparatus, ofstoring second identification data corresponding to the applicationdata, wherein in the print request step, the print request dataincluding the second identification data is sent, and wherein in theprint data obtaining step, the request of sending the print dataincluding the second identification data sent in the print request stepis sent.
 15. The method of controlling printing according to claim 10,wherein the user instruction received in the data conversion requeststep is to print the application data, wherein in the data conversionrequest step, an indication to send the print request data is outputafter sending the conversion request data to the data conversionapparatus, and wherein in the print request step, the print request datais sent to the image processing apparatus upon receiving the indicationoutput in the data conversion request step.